Archaon's Crusade
Survive the onslaught in the Realm of Chaos and prove yourself worthy of the Everchosen's doom.
Archaon's Crusade is a survival battle mode within Total War: Warhammer III that throws players into the heart of the Everchosen's final assault. Unlike a narrative campaign, this mode focuses on intense, wave-based combat in the Realm of Chaos and the Chaos Wastes, challenging commanders to hold the line against overwhelming odds as they fight for the end of all things.
- Map Region
- Realm of Chaos & Chaos Wastes
Lore & Background
Archaon stands as the avatar of the four Chaos Gods, a being forged from their combined malice to bring about the end of days. In this survival battle mode, players experience the culmination of his ambition not through a progressive march, but through a desperate, all-out confrontation in the heart of Chaos itself. The lore draws from the concept of the Black Crusade, but here the focus is on the final, apocalyptic clash rather than a step-by-step campaign of conquest.
In Their Own Story
The wind howled across the frozen plains, carrying the scent of ozone and blood. Archaon sat atop his steed, the black armor gleaming under a bruised purple sky. Before him lay the walls of Altdorf, trembling as the first wave of daemons crashed against stone. He raised his sword, the blade humming with dark energy. The end was not coming; it had already arrived.
Reader's Guide
This scenario places players in command of Archaon, the Everchosen, leading a massive force of Chaos Undivided warriors across the known world. The narrative premise follows the historic Black Crusade, where the goal is to breach the defenses of the mortal realms and bring about the end times. Players must navigate political maneuvering while maintaining the loyalty of their daemon princes and warlords during the march. Win conditions typically involve destroying major enemy factions or capturing specific strategic cities that symbolize the heart of human resistance. Failure occurs if Archaon is killed in battle or if his forces are scattered before reaching these critical objectives. The campaign features unique difficulty modifiers, often starting with a massive army but limited resources to sustain such a vast horde over time. Historical events trigger as players advance, unlocking special lore battles that reflect key moments from the grimdark timeline. These engagements test tactical prowess against combined arms of the Old World. Difficulty spikes significantly due to enemy alliances forming against the inevitable doom approaching their borders. Success requires balancing aggression with logistical survival in a world united against you.
Did You Know?
- Total War: Warhammer III was released on 17 February 2022.
- The game was developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega.
- It is the third Total War game set in Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy universe, following 2016's Total War: Warhammer and 2017's Total War: Warhammer II.
- The game was nominated for the British Academy Games Award for British Game at the 19th British Academy Games Awards.
- Immortal Empires, a combined world map, released as a Beta on 23 August 2022 with patch 2.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Archaon's Crusade in Warhammer Total War?
It is a dedicated scenario campaign built into Total War: Warhammer III that puts you in the saddle of the Everchosen and frames the entire game around one relentless Chaos offensive. Rather than a balanced multi-faction map, it is a focused narrative push where the Black Crusade is the sole driving force.
Who do you play as and which faction do you command?
You take the role of Archaon the Everchosen, leading the Chaos Undivided faction. This means the full combined might of the four Ruinous Powers is at your disposal for the duration of the scenario.
What is the end goal of the Archaon's Crusade scenario?
The objective is to march the Black Crusade across the Old World and ultimately shatter the barriers that keep Chaos locked out of the mortal realms. Victory is framed as a singular, high-stakes conquest rather than a prolonged attrition war.
Which game do I need and is it a separate purchase?
Archaon's Crusade ships as a scenario campaign inside Total War: Warhammer III and is currently available to play. You do not need to buy a standalone expansion; it is part of the base game's campaign options.
What region does the Archaon's Crusade map cover?
The scenario unfolds across The Old World, the same continent that anchors the larger Warhammer III campaign. This gives you the full spread of mortal nations and fortifications to break through as the crusade advances.
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